Thank goodness for the Summer season. Last month I had my best since I bought my 01 Xterra; getting 271 miles on a tank. I just pulled in the driveway today at 248 and I still have a quarter tank left. I have a 38 mile commute tonight so I am thinking I have a good chance of getting 280 or better before filling up.

Little things that I did to increase from 14 to about 16 - 16 1/2 MPG:

1. Drive at or under 2000RPM when at all possible. That also means when pulling away from a stop to be slow and easy. Also, 50 MPH is about 2000 RPM at crusing speed.

2. Plan your trips better. I leave 15 minutes earlier and take the older highway and drive 50MPH. You know, everyone has that old highway that they built an interstate around.

3. Take off the roof bin and the front fairing. Wind resistance is wind resistance no matter how aerodynamic it looks. Don't worry it will grow on ya, it did for me. Plus I finally found a purpose for that glass roof it came with. Damn, its a Sunroof

4. Tire Pressure is 33.5psi in the front, max pressure is 35psi. Different tires on back I run at 38.5psi with a max of 44psi. Its alot bumpier, but less resistance is less resistance.

5. Brake gently. The average person brakes their car in 10 seconds. By braking sooner and extending that period to 15 seconds, you are actually saving gas! Know your road and lights, anticipate when you are going to have to slow down and do it at a gentle controlled rate instead of waiting to the last minute and slamming the brake pedal.

6. Bought Satellite radio - If you are going to drive slower you need to have a lot of things to take your mine off the fact that you are spending more time in your X.

7. Laugh - Every time I see a Hummer H2, Dodge RAM, Chevrolet Avalanche go flying by me at 70/80 MPH I can't help buy chuckle at what those morons gas bill is going to be.

8. Owning an SUV, especially one like the X is about enjoying life. Learn to use the functional side of the X. For me there is nothing better than a Saturday afternoon to the local mountain bike trails for a couple hour ride. The more you take part in other things, the less time you will have thinking about the fact that your last gas bill was $45.

Enjoy!!